Receding hairlines are a common issue for both men and women, however, they are more prominent in men. Receding hairlines can be caused by a number of different things, ranging from genetics and aging to hormones and disease. There are several options when it comes to restoring your hairline, depending on the cause.
3 Signs of Hairline Recession
1. Your hairline is uneven
Young men often wonder, “Is my hairline maturing, or receding?” Hairline maturation is normal but recession is not. It is tough to tell the difference. If your entire hairline has pulled back, uniformly, then maturation is likely the cause. An uneven recession can be a major symptom of a receding hairline.
2. The hair at your temples is thinning
Hairline recession can seem like a sudden occurrence. However, it takes place over a period of time. During this time, the hair at your temples begins to thin. This means more hair is shedding than growing in.
3. Your hair is shedding more than normal
People typically shed anywhere from 50 to 100 hairs per day. An increase in shedding can be subtle but can eventually build up to where thinning becomes noticeable.
What factors contribute to a receding hairline?
- Genetics
- Over-styling hair (especially with heat)
- Choosing tight hairstyles like cornrows or braids
- Using harsh chemicals like bleach to dye hair
- Eating a diet high in saturated fat, processed foods, preservatives and sugar
- Cigarette smoking
How are receding hairlines treated?
Natural methods
- Eat a healthy diet: Antioxidants are ingredients that fight oxidative stress, which can cause your hair to age. Eating a diet enriched with antioxidants can help your hair look healthier and fuller.
- Foods packed with antioxidants: Walnuts, kidney beans, spinach, and blueberries
- Vitamins essential to hair growth: vitamin A, vitamin B-12, vitamin E, Iron, and Zinc
- Herbal Remedies: Topically applying herbal preparations could support healthier, fuller hair if you have a receding hairline. Chinese hibiscus, gooseberry, aloe vera, ginseng, and gotu kala have all been used as hair loss treatments.
- Switch to a gentle shampoo: Certain shampoos are designed specifically to be gentle and stimulating to your follicles. The ingredient that data suggests can support hair growth is called Ketoconazole.
- Essential Oils: Essential oils have also been said to help promote hair growth. The oils found to treat a receding hairline include rosemary oil, peppermint oil, and lavender oil. These oils work best if mixed with a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, or almond oil prior to being applied on the scalp.
- Scalp Massage: Scalp massages may help hair grow thicker and healthier. Increased blood circulation to the hairline could explain why scalp massages work to stimulate follicles.
- Decrease DHT levels: DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, is a hormone that can cause hair loss to increase when its levels rise. There is a way to decrease the levels of DHT in your body. You can do this by keeping an eye on what you eat, and by including lysine and zinc in your diet. Almonds, cashews, and pecans are great snacks that can help to lower DHT.
- Lower stress and anxiety: Stress has been linked to some types of hair loss. Decreasing stress and anxiety levels may not be as easy as it sounds. Research shows that you can lower stress levels by exercising, spending time outdoors, relaxing, and meditating.
Treatments
- Minoxidil: Minoxidil comes in 2 percent and 5 percent strengths, with 2 percent pushed more toward treating female hair loss. It increases blood flow to the scalp and is believed to revitalize hair follicles to help regrow hair.
- Finasteride: This prescription medication, also known as Propecia, lowers the hormone levels that cause your hairline to recede. Finasteride has been found to promote hair growth and stop hair loss when taken as directed.
Hairline Restoration Services
- Surgical Hair Transplants - With this method, hair will be surgically transplanted from another area of the scalp to the hairline.**
- Laser Therapy- Laser Therapy, also known as Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has been shown to regrow hair and can actually reverse hair loss as well±.
- Non-surgical Hair Restoration – Non-surgical hair restoration enables you to get the full head of hair and hairline you’ve always wanted, quickly and easily. Non-surgical hair restoration includes a variety of methods where real hair is semi-permanently attached to your existing hair or scalp
** Professional hair transplantation services provided by the affiliated physicians of Bosley Medical Group. Please note that no procedures are performed at Bosley® until the patient has been examined, diagnosed and accepted for treatment by a Bosley physician. Results may vary.
±The benefits mentioned above are based on clinical studies, published medical journal articles and client experience. Individual results may vary and are not guaranteed. The Laser Devices offered by Hair Club are FDA-cleared for men and women and cleared for distribution by Health Canada.
For informational purposes only. The information presented herein is general in nature and is not intended to substitute the advice of a physician or other health care professional.